Tree harvesting machine

Abstract

A tree harvesting machine is disclosed which is of the type having a wheel-mounted frame, a tree harvesting mechanism at the front and a berth at the rear for accumulated felled trees. An inverted tree grapple is provided forwardly of the berth and is mounted to the berth so that it can be slid to and from the berth whereby the grapple may be held close to the berth during accumulation of felled trees and moved away from the berth when loaded. In this last position, the center of gravity of the load has thus been shifted forwardly. The berth itself is pivoted to the frame to allow loading to take place in rearwardly inclined position. Once loaded, the berth may then be uprighted easily since the center of gravity of the load has shifted forwardly.

We claim: 
     
       1. A tree harvesting machine of the type having a wheel-mounted frame, a tree harvesting mechanism at the front end of said frame and berth means on said frame behind said harvesting mechanism for holding accumulated trees felled by said harvesting mechanism, lengthwise of said frame, the improvement wherein said berth means comprises: a berth section and means mounting said berth section on said frame for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said frame;   grapple means forwardly of said berth section, said grapple having a pair of gripping arms movable laterally of said frame and suitable to grip and tightly hold said accumulated felled trees together;   means interconnecting said grapple means and said berth section for slidable displacement of said grapple means with respect to said berth section and lengthwise of said frame between a position wherein said grapple means is close to said berth section and a position wherein said grapple means is away from said berth section, and   first power means interconnecting said berth section and said frame and suitable to pivot said berth section and grapple means about said transverse pivot axis.   
     
     
       2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said berth section extends rearwardly of said pivot axis and said grapple means is provided forwardly of said pivot axis. 
     
     
       3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said berth section mounting and pivot means comprises a pivot block secured to the forward end of said berth section, said grapple means being provided forwardly of said pivot block. 
     
     
       4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pivot block defines an open-ended passage extending lengthwise of said frame and wherein said means interconnecting said grapple means and said berth section comprises: a beam slidably extending through said passage of said pivot block;   means securing one end of said beam to said grapple means;   second power means interconnecting said berth section and the other end of said beam and suitable to slidably displace said beam and thus said grapple means between said two positions of said grapple means.   
     
     
       5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pair of rear wheels mounted on an axle transverse to said frame and said first power means is located rearwardly of said transverse axle. 
     
     
       6. A machine as claimed in claim 4, comprising a pair of rear wheels mounted on an axle transverse to said frame and said first power means is located rearwardly of said transverse axle. 
     
     
       7. A machine as claimed in claim 4, comprising a pair of rear wheels mounted on an axle transverse to said frame, said first power means being located rearwardly of said transverse axle and being a power jack having a cylinder and a piston rod of which the ends are articulated respectively to said berth section and to said frame. 
     
     
       8. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second power means is a power jack having a cylinder and a rod of which the ends are fixed respectively to said berth section and to the other end of said beam. 
     
     
       9. A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second power means is a power jack having a cylinder and a rod of which the ends are fixed respectively to said berth section and to the other end of said beam.